The Obsidian Heir

Mace

Mace sat sullenly on his bed. His hair was covering his forehead and eyes, he needed to cut it. He was polishing his father's sword. The shiny steel of Molten shines bright from the candle's illumination . 
   Sweat dripped down from his messy hair and onto Molten, and quickly slid down the steel of the sword leaving a stain on it. He had to polish that part. 
   A knock at the door made Mace look up from the sword. It was his father. Daren looked at him and then the sword. 
   The sword had a slight scratch on it from when Mace took it to polish it. Daren noticed it and his face turned red. 
   Anger filled him and he snatched the sword by the grip and slashed it twice at Mace. Mace fell backwards.
   Red blood fell from Mace's cheek and blood dripped down. Mace covered his face, his cheek throbbed with pain.
   "What happened?" Daren demanded. Mace was quiet. Tears filled his eyes, if he's ever done something wrong he'd be slashed at. On his back though not his face; he guesses his father loves him more than the sword.
   "Tell me, boy!" yelled Daren, "I scraped it  against the wall, I'm sorry your grace," pleaded Mace.
   He hated calling him father, he rather be born in a lowborn family than in Daren's. Daren looked down at him, shamelessly.
   He walked out the room, but stood out the door, "We're not going to the wedding anymore, my nephew chopped off the father of the girl's nephew's head. We may go to war and he may try and keep us hostage there," said Daren.
   Sounds better than here, thought Mace. "That's fine," lied Mace. Daren stared at him not believing his words, "Alright then," he said. 
   The blood spilled all over Mace's bed. The wound stung. He exited his room to see a sorcerer.
   As he made his way there, guards passed him giving him offensive looks. He felt nervous, like an outcast.
   You're a bastard no one loves you, he thought. It didn't cheer him up at all. Mace knocked at the door to the sorcerer's office until he heard a signal to come in.
   The sorcerer's room was six stone walls with a big clear window with the afternoon sun shining in. 
   The walls were painted black, like the walls outside the castle. The black bricks that filled the walls of the castle and the red bricks that filled the roofs of the castle.
   A big oval shaped desk stood in the center of the room.  The wood was black and had leather books laid across it. 
   One of the books was titled, Dark Plague. His cousin Mark ordered him to learn a cure for it. 
   "Lord Mark, how may I assist you today?" the sorcerer asked. The sorcerer was named Platois Xerxa. Platois made his way past his desk and to Mace when he noticed his cheek.
   "Let me have a look," said Platois as he grabbed Mace's face softly. "Yeah… we're going to need to put in some ointment and Pale Rose. Pale Rose was a type of medicine that made wounds heal three times quicker, so they have less time to get infected.
   The sorcerer grabbed a bottle if white liquid, which was the Pale Rose. He then grabbed the ointment and rubbed it on the wound.
   The rubbing and ointment made the wound burn. He then slowly poured the Pale Rose into the wound, which made a tingling feeling inside the wound.
   "Let me guess… your father slashed you again?" Platois asked, "Yes," Mace answered shortly. 
   "Don't tell him I said this, because then he'll have my head, but he needs to learn to treat his son how a son should be treated," the scrawny old sorcerer said. Platois had a white buzz cut and a small white goatee.
   His eyes have gone gray from old age and his skin wrinkled. Mace was not offended by the insult towards his father. He deserved it.
   " I appreciate your help Platois," Mace said. The sorcerer gave Mace a courteous nod. Mace exited the door to the room and walked towards the throne room.
   Daren was sitting on the cooled down magma throne reading a message aloud, "Uncle, send your army to me and let us march down to Reinfield together, I'll bring the houses we have with us to take down the kingdom of Reinfield, let this war commence," said Daren who read the message. 
   The message must've been from Mark. His council stood there in front of the throne, and the messenger who sent it. He was a little short man with short red hair and freckles, he had brown eyes and yellow teeth. "If you have a message to send to Mark I'll gladly send it back," the messenger said courteously. 
   Daren shook his head, "No, stay with us, we're marching down to Obsidian City to meet my nephew. If a war is about to break out then we must be on our house's side. There's no need to send the message, Jay, when we're marching together. You can come with us," said Daren.
   Jay was the messenger. Jay gave a courteous nod and walked towards Mace, "My lord," he said to Mace as he passed him. He sat in a chair that leaned against the dim walls of the Red Veil. 
   The rest of Daren's council stood in front of him. K'ha Nero, the master of ships. His name means Ruthless Arrow in Y'ahal'lu. He had long black hair, blue cat eyes, wrinkles skin. He wore a black robe with black boots that shone the reflected light. 
   Standing next to him was the master of coin who was named Eren Caw. He was tall with brown short hair and brown sad eyes, he had a ugly unibrow and wore black robes and boots like K'ha. 
   Haren Hall was there too, standing beside Eren. Next to Haren was Daren's regent, William Black the fourth. Also known as the Full Moon's Sword. He was called that because he's never lost a war and each of his victories were under a full moon.
   He wore a pale robe with linen plaid on it. He had white hair that went to his back. It looked rough and barbed from where Mace was standing. His skin had at least a million wrinkles. He was covered in them. Even his eyelids had wrinkles, so did his nose. His eyes were the color of pitch black. He had a long frog mouth. He was ugly, but his skill in battle was unbeatable. He used to be king of Blackwatch until he resigned for his eldest son Taurus Black, was brother to William Black the fifth. 
   Then David was there standing next to William Black the fourth. Next to David was Daren's sworn sword and shield. He was one of the Goliaths. Robert Kindle one of the Goliaths…
   Mace stared at the sight of Robert Kindle 
His red eyes could be seen through his obsidian skull helmet. His armor was black made of pure obsidian. The sight of him frightened Mace. 
   Robert was the biggest and most dangerous man in the room. He caught Mace staring at the sight of him. Mace's face turned pale and he quickly looked away. Oh no… he saw me, thought Mace. 
   Robert held a giant black morningstar named Bloodlust in his right hand. The spikes off of it were sharp white steel. 
  He made no sound whatsoever, you could only hear his deep breathing when you were next to the monster.
  "We'll march to Obsidian City in two days, we'll bring three quarters of our army. Mace we'll be in charge of the Red Vail and the rest of my army here… while I am gone. The rest of you will come with my, my entire council," sais Daren
   "My grace, may I come with you?" asked Mace, "You were not ordered to speak, boy," said Daren angrily. He ignored the question. "My Grace, Monar and Oakland will be in the way of our path to Obsidian city, what will we do about that?" asked K'har. "Yorencraw is also on our way there, we could get them to join our allies and then we'll march with them, we'll then be able to fly right through Monar and Oakland because most of them are going to that Rein girl's eighteenth name day," said Daren.
   Mace clenched his fist in anger. He didn't want to stay, he wanted to experience war. "Yorencraw's king, Renny, is an old friend of mine, so the persuasion of him joining us, is a high chance," said Daren.
   Robert nodded his head in agreement. "And the Midnight Rider, they're still out there for another fortnight at least," said William Black the fourth. "We'll be able to make it over to Yorencraw, they were spotted ten hours away from Obsidian City, that's across a good bit of the continent, at least two fortnights on horseback," said Daren. 
   "Father, what if we do come across them?" David asked, "We'll be gathering all of our allied houses together on our way there, we'll be able to knock them off the map," said Daren.
   "They have at least one hundred legions of men with them, but most of them are old and frail," said Haren.
   "That's six hundred thousand men, that can knock us off of the map, my grace," said Eren. "All of our allied houses together are about eight hundred thousand soldiers, there is no worry, other than them weakening us. There is a low chance that they'll come across our march," said Daren.
   "On our way there, our enemies may be marching to Reinfield for the wedding and the girl's name day. If we do come across them… will we fight or negotiate?" asked K'har. "The war has already started. Righara the second has been killed and the word has spreaded, the other houses will be prepared to fight if we do come across them, so we will fight," said Daren.
   "Our army and our ally's armies will be weakened. We may lose this war, may we wait a fortnight at least?" askes Haren, "Then the chance of us coming across the Midnight Rider will be a lot higher, they'll be doing their continental lap near us," said Daren.
   Everyone was silent for a minute. Mace caught the glare from Robert. His red eyes were menacing. Mace's face stayed pale and fearful. He saw me looking at him, I'm doomed aren't I… thought Mace. 
   Daren stood up from his chair holding Molten. The scratch was still there, but it wasn't that noticeable from far away.
   "Y'all may be dismissed," said Daren. Everyone gave Daren a courteous nod except for Robert who made his way towards Mace. Mace pretended to ignore Robert, and made his way to his chambers. 
   He could sense Robert's red eyes following him. The evil emitting from behind him, slowly following him. They're demons, Mace thought. 
   As he entered his chambers the afternoon sun poured through the windows and straight to his eyes, he made his way through the door of his room, but a hand in his shoulder turned him around.
   As he turned around his face was facing a huge chest, but when he looked up he saw red eyes with fury. 
   Robert walked closer to him and Mace backed up into his bed, "You scared of me bastard," he assumed with a deep chilling voice.
   "Does the size of me scare you, is it my red eyes, my black veins. Do I look like an abomination to you!" Robert yelled.
   Nace shook his head, intimidated. Robert's eyes grew furious, his giant hand grabbed Mace's neck, it wrapped fully around it, "SPEAK BASTARD!" Robert boomed.
   Mace tried speaking, but the words couldn't come out. He made a grasp of the air and was able to say, "No." 
   Robert let go of him. The relief of being able to breathe was wonderful, "Tell anyone about this and I'll be having your head with whoever's trying to stop me from getting yours," said Robert.
   Mace's heart raced with fear as Robert left the room. After a few minutes his anxiety cooled down. That's the worst pain he's ever felt. The heavy feeling in his chest. His lungs are struggling to force air out. The squeeze around his neck. The bones of his neck almost snapped, and his esophagus was squeezed tightly.
   Mace laid on his bed and stared at his door, waiting for Robert to come back and choke him again. He stayed wary for the rest of the afternoon. 
   Until his eyes grew heavy. A field of grass came upon Mace's dream and the sound of hooves heading towards him came louder. Banners with a man with a noose wrapped around his neck rushed towards him. 
   The legion of the mounted horses stopped. A man hopped off of his horse. The horse seemed as if it had strained to hold the man. As the man stepped closer he recognized it was Robert. "DO I SCARE YOU BASTARD!" Robert boomed. His obsidian helmet melted off of his head. His face became clear. Pale and hairless. His red eyes glowed with rage, and his black veins pulsed with evil, "DO YOU FRET IN THE FACE OF FEAR!" he boomed.
   He swung his obsidian gauntlet at him. Mace went flying. He landed on the grass which stabbed into him like spikes and then turned into furious hot fires. 
   "SPEAK BASTARD! Robert boomed again. His voice was like thunder and the sound of a demon. 
   Robert rushed towards him and grabbed him by the neck until he heard a crack. Mace woke up sweating. His bed covers were moist from his sweat. Only a nightmare, he thought. 
   He noticed the sky was dark with the glowing stars in it. A shooting star flew by in the night sky.  He got out from under the covers and onto the floor, the wooden spruce floors creaked.
   He made his way to the door and heard a voice. It was a deep voice that would make a man get on his knees. The fear it put in Mace's body. It sounded darker than Robert's. 
   "This is part of the sillavoe magic, be careful with it, if your king Daren finds out then your head will he off and then he'll know house Tether is coming for all. This potion of darkness; pour it in his wine, he'll become ill and will eventually go into a coma then slowly decay," said the man with the dark voice. "And if it doesn't work?" asked a different person. The voice sounded like Haren Hall's. 
   Why would he… maybe it's not him… thought Mace. Mace peeked around the wall and saw Haren Hall standing next to a hooded figure. The cloak the hooded figure wore was black and covered his face casting a shadow upon it. "I already gave this potion to the Goat Knight for Raehera, kings will be falling back and forth, then soon house Tether will take over all of Esternia. And you, the Goat Knight, the Goliaths, the Face of Gallows and the Blood Rider will help the house of Tether's rule and will be treated good, more than you've ever been and better than you've ever been," the hooded man's dark voice said. The Goliaths… he thought in fear.
   Haren Hall nodded in understandance. "Rember, King of the Moving Castle, I the Shadow of Esternia, the Dark Lord, Avalon Tether will be your king," said Avalon the hooded figure. 
   The Face of Gallows was J'quar'is Filler. His first name means Dragon in Y'ahal'lu. He was a tall burly man with blue eyes and long coarse black hair. His skin was pale white. He. Was called the Face of Gallows for how many people he's executed.
   The Blood Rider was a well known man of the Midnight Bastards. He was named F'ea'ron'a Fyr, which meant horror in Y'ahalu. He got the name the Blood Rider for how many people he's slain while on horseback. 
  It is said he has black skin, black eyes with malicious intentions. His nose is sharp, and he has no hair. He is said to wear the darkest of steel armor and wears a red cape that is said to have been painted by blood.
   Haren Hall and Avalon Fyr dismissed each other. Haren Hall began to walk towards the way of Mace. Mace jumped quickly and ran to his chambers. Once he was in his chambers, he quickly got under his red silky quilt and pretended he was asleep.
   He heard the door knob twist and the door creak open. He closed his eyes tightly. Hoping that the person peeking in his room wouldn't notice he was awake.
   He heard the door shut and he got out from under his covers. No one was at the door anymore and no one was in his room. I must tell father of this… but he'll never believe me… thought Mace, I hope he will. 
   Mace drifted off once more, but had no dream this time. He woke up with the morning light blazing across the room. He pulled his covers off of him and remembered last night.
   He rushed to the spruce door and down the dim hallways to his father's chambers. Once he was in there he was holding a goblet, drinking from it.
   The goblet was golden with imprints of knights fighting each other. Each of the knight's eyes had a small ruby as it.
   "Father, don't drink that," worriedly warned Mace. Father stared at him, "Did you poison it or something?" asked Daren with a red face, he was angry. "No I overheard Haren last night talking to the guy and he was gonna poison your wine, this is true father, please do not drink any more of that," pleaded Mace.
   Daren's face turned pale… something was wrong, "Father are you okay?" Mace asked. "He made my drink," responded Daren, his chin shaking, "Get the guards!" Daren yelled
Mace peeked his head out the door, and yelled, "Guards!"
   Two guards came rushing and looked at Daren and then Mace, "SEIZE THE HEAD OF HAREN HALL!" boomed Daren. As Daren said, he stood up and grabbed onto Molten's grip.
   Daren's face turned red, and looked as if his eyes were about to fall out. He begins to stumble around his chamber. He backed up on the wall, and fell onto the floor with a thud. Mace rushed over to him, "Tell David… I-" Daren passed out before he could finish the words.
   Mace was shocked, he never thought the day would come. He backed up towards the door, and yelled for Platois. A minute later Platois rushed in, his black robes swaying from right to left. Platois ordered Mace to set Daren on the bed and he did as said. 
   Platois put his head on Daren's chest, "He's alive, bring me Cambolinen, it's a thick orange liquid in a medium size bottle, go get it for me quick," Platois ordered.
   Mave rushed out the room and ran down the dim dark hallway. The flames of the torches being the only illumination.
   Once he made it to the sorcerer's room he saw the bottle of Cambolinen. He grabbed the bottle and rushed back to his father's chambers.
   He gave it to the sorcerer. The sorcerer poured it into Daren's mouth. The thick liquid slowly came out and put a thick coating around his mouth.
   It smelled of dung and rats, but it was going to help him. He heard the sound of clashing steel outside the room. He looked at Molten and grabbed it by the grip and rushed out his father's chambers. Haren Hall had killed two men who now lay on the floor beneath him, "Stop this madness at once!" Haren yelled with four men around him, "It's the bastard, just look at him, his face is filled with guilt. He's jealous he isn't the rightful heir to the throne. Kill him, not me!"
   The guards looked at him and rushed towards him. Stupids guards! Mark thought as he ran towards the exit of the throne room. He ran outside the door of the throne room with multiple swords slashing at him. He stopped and stabbed one in the waist who fell to the ground. The three others continued chasing him. He stopped running from then and slashed at another guard. His slash sliced the ear off the guard and the earless guard screamed in pain.
   The other two swung their swords at Mace, and Mace clashed Molten with theirs. The sound of steel clashing was loud. He kicked one in his manhood, and he fell to the ground with a scream. The other he lunged at and sent a sword right through his stomach. The earless guard ran at him and parried an attack from him. Luckily the earless guard missed. He must've been blinded from all the blood on his ugly face. 
   When Mace was unstunned he slashed off the head of the earless guard. He was headless and earless now. The one he kicked in the manhood backed up from Mace and ran back into the throne room. Mace quickly ran to the stables which had five beautiful horses in it. One brown with white spots, one black, one gray, and two white. He hopped on the saddle of the black horse and grabbed its reins.
   He directed the horse to leave Red Vail. He felt something impaled in the back of his heel. He turned around and saw an arrow in the back of his arrow and at the door of the throne room was standing Haren Hall giving him a menacing stare. 
   He continued racing out of Red Vail while on the horse. He heard the sound of hooves racing behind him and saw men holding unfamiliar banners. Until he recognized them. The one from his dream. They had the symbol of the man with the noose around his neck.
   He saw Robert leading them, holding the banner. He heard battle cries of the men on the mounted horses. "DO NOT RUN FROM THE FACE OF FEAR!" boomed Robert.
   As they raced down through huts and alleyways on the gray stone brick road he got closer and closer to the wall of Red Vail. The gates were still opened, he whipped the reins of his horse making it go faster. The gate was ten feet, nine feet. Mace looked behind him to see how close Robert was behind him. Five feet, four feet. Almost there. Two feet, one feet and out. He ran through the fields of grass, they were on fire. It was just like his dream. The green grass burnt to a crisp and black aa the night. He heard battle horns behind him. "Chase him down," demanded Robert to two house of Tether men. 
   He had to make it to Yorencraw before they're able to find him. The crops and grass were on fire, his horse ran through the trail of grass that wasn't on fire.
   The two enemy men followed right behind him. The sight of blazing hot made all their horses scream as they raced through it.
   He was almost out of the ocean of burning fire and would be able to take the Eastern Road to Yorencraw. 
   He finally made it out of the hellish field and was on the Eastern Road. The two house of Tether guards still were chasing him. Jousting… it'll be just like jousting, thought Mace.
   Mace turned horse towards one of the mounted men and ran straight towards him with Molten aimed at the man. Their swords clashed when they met each other. The sound of steel rang through the field.
   He turned back around and aimed for the mounted men he just attacked, his back was facing him. Perfect shot. 
   He ran up on him and sent his sword through the back of the man. The sword slid clean out of the man's back and he fell off his horse onto the ground.
   The other man ran his horse straight towards Mace. Mace got Molten ready. Once their swords clashed, the man steddied his horse next to Mace's and their swords kept clashing together as they swung left from right. This was the first time Mace had a sword fight on horseback; he tried his best.
   Steel rang and the two fought. Mace parried the man and the man fell off of his horse and his sword fell into his throat. Mace took a deep breath, he realized he was amazingly sweating a lot. He looked to see if anyone else was chasing him, there was no one in sight he could see, but he still heard the sounds of war horns blasting from Red Vail. 
   Mace whipped the reins of his horse and continued to ride towards Yorencraw.